A Common Core State
Standards Aligned Discussion
& Activity Guide for
Bear and
Squirrel are
Friends
Grades K-3
ISBN: 9781481429139
Written & Illustrated by Deb Pilutti
A Paula Wiseman Book
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Books
for Young Readers
Yes, bears sometimes eat squirrels. But can they still be friends? Find out in this clever picture
book that’s perfect for preschoolers.
The other bears said, “Squirrel would make a good midnight snack!”
Bear said, “Squirrel’s my friend. I would never eat a friend.”
But what happens if Bear gets really, really hungry? Squirrel has just the solution! This story
about the power and bond of friendship will warm the hearts—and tickle the funny bones—of
everyone who reads it.
Guide created by Debbie Gonzales
2
Table of Contents
Take a Book Walk - Discussion Questions................................................................................................ 3
Big & Little - Classify, Categorize, and Label.......................................................................................... 5
Hibernation Craft............................................................................................................................................ 8
Calendar Craft..................................................................................................................................................11
Finger Knitting.................................................................................................................................................15
Common Core State Standards:
English Language Arts Standards » Reading: Literature............................................................... 17
Mathematics Standards...........................................................................................................................18
English Language Arts Standards » Reading: Foundational Skills..............................................18
English Language Arts Standards » Writing.......................................................................................19
English Language Arts Standards » Speaking & Listening............................................................19
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
3
Let’s Take a Book Walk - Discussion Questions
Pre-Reading Discussion Questions:
Study the book’s front cover:
• The title of the book is Bear and Squirrel are Friends.
Discuss why a friendship between a bear and a squirrel
might be a strange one, and maybe dangerous one.
• Explain how authors tell stories. List the sorts of tools do
they use to do so.
• Explain how pictures can tell stories. Identify the tools
illustrators use to tell stories.
• Observe the book’s front cover. Describe Bear and
Squirrel’s expressions. Tell how they feel about each
other. How do you know?
• Predict what the story of Bear and Squirrel are Friends is
going to be about.
Deb Pilutti is the author
and the illustrator of
Bear and Squirrel are Friends.
Study the back cover.
• Describe the action in this illustration.
• Guess what Squirrel is saying to Bear. Telling a joke? A story? What do you think?
• Predict Bear’s response to Squirrel’s discussion. Will he laugh? Say something in return?
Explain your answer.
• These friends are enjoying a conversation with one another. How about you? Describe the
sorts of things you do with your friends.
Post-Reading Discussion Questions:
They liked to gather acorns and blueberries.
• Turn to the spread where Bear is shaking a tree and Squirrel is gathering acorns.
• Observe Bear and Squirrel closely. List all of the ways that they are different. Consider
aspects such as how they move, where they live, what they eat, etc.
• Identify ways they are the same. Explore aspects such as they are both mammals, furcovered, live in nature, etc.
• One similarity they share is their feelings for one another. Describe their relationship.
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
4
Squirrel said, “Don’t be silly! Bear is my friend.”
Bear said, “That’s ridiculous! Squirrel is my friend.”
• Explain why the other squirrels and bears think that this friendship is a problem.
• To be friendly means to be kind, loyal, helpful and good. Point out ways that Bear and
Squirrel are friendly with one another.
• The opposite of being friendly is to be mean, a bully, or an enemy. Examine Bear and
Squirrel’s relationship. Tell why they would never treat each other in these hateful ways.
•
And when Bear settled in for a long winter nap, Squirrel waited patiently
for his friend to wake up.
• Bear is hibernating for the winter. Tell what you know about hibernation.
• Notice the calendar on the wall above Bear’s bed. Also, observe the weather change
occurring outside of the window. Using the calendar and weather change as clues, tell how
many months Bear hibernated.
• Tell how Squirrel’s action shows that he’s been waiting for a long time. Who is Squirrel
knitting the scarf for? Tell how you know.
The looked at each other for a long time.
• In the previous spread, Bear said to Squirrel, “I mean you look like you would taste
delicious.” Predict what each animal is thinking in this spread in which they are both looking
at each other.
• Guess what each animal wants to do.
• Explain how Bear and Squirrel know what they need to do.
• Tell what true friends would do, in this situation.
But Bear couldn’t stop.
• Retell the ending of the story.
• Explain the real reason why Bear did not eat Squirrel. Was it because Squirrel made
blueberry pancakes for Bear, or because friends do not eat friends? Explain your answer.
• Tell how, at the end of the story, Bear and Squirrel are kind, loyal, helpful and good.
• What about you? List ways that you are kind, loyal, helpful, and good to your friends.
• Explain why you are not mean to them, or treat them like an enemy.
• Discuss what Bear and Squirrel taught you about being a friend.
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
5
Big & Little - Classify, Categorize, and Label
It’s true that Bear was much bigger than Squirrel.
Objectives: To classify and match graphics with word labels, associating the basic features of
print.
Materials:
• Cardstock
• Scissors
• Label Board (Guide, pg. 6)
• Graphics and Word Labels (Guide, pg. 7)
• Gluestick or tape
• Pencil
• Paper
Procedure:
• Print two Label Boards, Graphics and Word labels on cardstock.
• Use scissors to cut around the borders of the graphics and word labels.
• Match the graphics together.
• Using the Label Board, place the small graphics under that label reading SMALL.
• Match the larger graphics to the right under the label reading BIG.
• Associate the matching word label to the far right of the Label Board.
• Use gluestick or tape to secure graphics and word labels to Label Boards.
• Using pencil and paper, illustrate an original version of the graphic. Label the drawing with
the word featured on the word label.
• Share work with others.
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
SMALL
BIG
WORD LABEL
7
Graphics and Word Labels
bear
snowflake
butterfly
lady bug
squirrel
leaf
bird
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
8
A Hibernation Craft
And when Bear settled in for a long winter nap, Squirrel waited patiently
for his friend to wake up.
Objective: To demonstrate the connection
between a specific image and the text in a
craft-like manner.
Materials:
• A brown paper lunch bag
• Bear Cut Out (Guide, pg. 10)
• Scissors
• Tape or glue stick
Procedure:
• Print Bear Cut Out.
• Using scissors, trim around edges of the Bear Cut Out.
• Note the tab at the base of the Bear Cut Out. Fold tab back.
• Lay paper bag flat on a table so that the bottom is facing up.
Cut the bag about an inch below the folded bottom.
• Unfold bag and cut a U-shaped opening on one side of the
bag.
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
9
• To shape den, place the bag so that one side resting on
the table with the U-shaped opening resting at an angle.
• Place Bear inside den opening. Secure Bear there by
taping or gluing the folded tab to the bottom portion of
the den.
• Using the illustrations depticted in the book, decorate
Bear’s den inside and out. Create a cozy room for Bear to
hibernate in all winter long.
Project Follow Up: Write a narrative from Bear’s point of view describing his
hibernation dreams. Use the illustrations depicting him sleeping as reference.
Bear’s dreamy thought progression began as a strawberry, to a sandwich, and
then a pizza. Intepret Bear’s these changes. Tell why he is dreaming in this way.
Reference: “Welcome to Westcott.” Westcott. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://www.westcottbrand.com/Teacher/
TeacherActivities-WinterSnooze/ClassroomActivities-WinterSnooze/1754>.
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
10
Bear Cut Out
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
11
Calendar Craft
Until spring finally arrived.
Bear began to stir.
Objective: To write, read, and correctly sequence a series of numerals representing the dates on
a calendar.
Materials:
• Monthly Calendar Templates (Guide, pgs. 12-14)
• Large annual calendar (for reference)
• Bear and Squirrel are Friends
• Pencil
• Markers
Procedure:
• Print Monthly Calendar Templates.
• Using large annual calendar as reference, flip through to find the months of January,
February, and March - the months during which Bear hibernated.
• Instruct student to write the numeric dates in the correct corresponding grid on the Monthy
Calendar Template.
• Observe the illustration featuring Bear hibernating. Identify details that suggest the hanging
seasons and passage of time.
• Instruct students to use markers to illustrate the uppers portion of their Monthly Calendars.
Encourage them to use the detail clues offered in the book’s illustrations.
Project Follow Up: Write a narrative from Squirrel’s point of view
recording his thoughts while Bear was hibernating. Tell how he felt while
waiting for his friend to awake. Explain why Squirrel is willing to patiently
wait for such a long time.
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
12
JANUARY
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
13
FEBRUARY
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
14
MARCH
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
15
Finger Knitting
Materials:
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Fingers
Procedure:
• Step 1: Begin by placing long strand of yarn
between thumb and forefinger.
• Wrap yarn behind forefinger, in front of middle
finger, behind ring finger, and in front of pinkie
finger.
• Step 2: Repeat pattern moving toward
forefinger by wrapping yarn behind pinkie
finger, in front of ring finger, behind middle
finger, and in front of forefinger.
• Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 by wrapping yarn
behind forefinger, in front of middle finger,
behind ring finger, and in front of pinkie finger
and back.
• Once complete, you should have two loops on
each finger.
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
16
• Step 4: To Start the knitting process, beginning
at the pinkie finger, lift the bottom loop (the
one closest to the palm of the hand) over the
top loop. Repeat this process with the other
fingers.
• Note: Remember to always begin the knitting
process at the pinkie finger.
• Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until your knitting project
has reached the desired length.
• To cast off, beginning at the pinkie finger,
transfer loop to ring finger.
• Lift the lower ring finger loop over the the
upper one, leaving one loop remaining on the
ring finger.
• Transfer the remaining ring finger loop to
middle finger.
• Lift the middle finger loop over the the upper
one, leaving one loop remaining on the middle
finger.
• Repeat process until you have one loop
remaining on the pointer finger.
• To bind off, insert cut strand into the final loop
remaining on the forefinger and tighten.
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
17
Common Core State Standards
English Language Arts Standards » Reading: Literature
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
18
CCSS Mathematics Content
English Language Arts Standards » Reading: Foundational Skills
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
19
English Language Arts Standards » Writing
English Language Arts Standards » Speaking & Listening
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com
20
English Language Arts Standards » Speaking & Listening (cont.)
Pilutti, Deb. Bear and Squirrel are Friends. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
ISBN: 9781481429139 www.debpilutti.com www.debbiegonzales.com